Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42024710›Full record

Trial reportJournal of surgical oncology2026

An Interactive Preoperative Virtual Reality Intervention for Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Oncological Surgery: A Feasibility and Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

Renée El-Gabalawy, Gabrielle S Logan, Pamela Hebbard, Jordana L Sommer, Kristin Reynolds, Kailey E Penner, Michael S D Smith, Natalie Mota, W Alan C Mutch, Eisi Mollanji and 3 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of surgical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04544618 (Preoperative Virtual Reality for Cancer Surgery Patients), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04544618 nacompletednot on this map

Preoperative Virtual Reality for Cancer Surgery Patients: A Feasibility and Pilot Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of ManitobaRan2021 to 2024Enrolled23ConditionsAnxiety StateArmsVirtual reality operating room simulation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Renée El-GabalawyDepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Gabrielle S LoganDepartment of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Pamela HebbardCancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Jordana L SommerDepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8311-1854
Kristin ReynoldsDepartment of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Kailey E PennerDepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Michael S D SmithNational Research Council Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Natalie MotaDepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
W Alan C MutchDepartment of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Eisi MollanjiDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Jessica L Maples-KellerDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
David PerrinCancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Rakesh C AroraDepartment of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Funding

Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher AwardTri-Agency New Frontiers (Exploration) in Research
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesPreoperative anxiety is common before surgery and is associated with adverse outcomes, yet access to mental health support remains limited. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a novel preoperative virtual reality (VR) prototype designed to reduce anxiety in patients undergoing cancer surgery.

methodsIn a multi-method feasibility and pilot trial, participants were randomized to either the VR intervention or standard of care (SoC) between 2021 and 2023. VR participants completed a simulation 1-2 weeks before surgery exploring the operating room (OR) and experiencing anesthesia induction. Intervention feasibility and acceptability (primary outcomes), and preliminary trends in anxiety and distress (secondary outcomes) were explored using measures and open-ended questions administered at four perioperative timepoints.

resultsOf 33 interested individuals, 27 were randomized, and 23 completed the study (VR: n = 12; SoC: n = 11). No adverse VR effects occurred. Most participants reported elevated preoperative anxiety (78.3%-87%), rated the VR as helpful (M = 80.4%), enjoyable (M = 87.7%), and all viewed it as worthwhile. Six qualitative themes emerged: preparation for the OR, psychological and emotional impact, realism, interactivity, technical issues, and supporting others. Trends suggested reduced postoperative distress and anxiety for the VR group.

conclusionThe VR intervention was feasible and acceptable, supporting further development and advancement to a larger clinical trial.

trial registrationThe clinical trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04544618 on September 10th, 2020.

Indexed as

AnxietyBreast NeoplasmsPreoperative CareVirtual RealityAdultAgedFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPilot Projectsbreast canceroncologyperioperativevirtual realityVR

Identifiers

PMID42024710
PMCPMC13378775

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.